Sunny Side Up #10: For My Mum.
Happy birthday to my best friend xxxx
It’s all luck of the draw, isn’t it?
We come into the world screaming, thinking ‘wtf is going on?!’, as we’re passed into the hands of the woman we’ll call our Mother.
Our families are decided for us.
It’s not like in Harry Potter, where you can hint to the Sorting Hat that you’d rather not be in Slytherin. If that were the case, I’d have said that I didn’t want an uncle that was scared of balloons (lol love u Gary!).
Fortunately, I was born to a woman who had once accidentally knocked over Kylie Minogue backstage at an INXS concert. Little did she know that some years later, on Kylie’s birthday, she’d give birth to me. Kylie 2.0. I’m two inches taller, though.
Growing up, something I’d hear on TV or in magazines or maybe just in conversation was this fear of ‘I’m turning into my mother!’. I’ve definitely reached that point. I see her when I look in the mirror, when I put on my outfit for the day, in my cooking, my humour, and in the way I interact with others. And thank goodness!
I look like my Mum. Blonde hair, blue eyes, creases when I smile that we both got from my Grandpa. I used to spend hours picking my reflection apart when I looked in the mirror, but now I like that I can see elements of her looking back at me. We seem to have developed the exact same sense of style, too, and there has been more than one occasion that we have unintentionally turned up in the exact same thing. She was a librarian, and you’ll always find her with a book by her side, while I have words spilling out of every crevice.
There was definitely a point - mainly during my teenage years - when there was an unexplainable friction between my Mum and I. Obviously, it was entirely down to me and the unease I felt within myself, like all girls do at that age. I’d slam my door, huff when she’d ask me to put my laundry away, and my cheeks would flush with embarrassment if I’d see a group of girls from my school when I was with my mum in public. The irony is, I never wanted to leave her side.
My Mum is the glue that holds me together; I genuinely don’t know what I’d have done if she weren’t there. She was on the receiving end of my text messages when I was sat alone in the lunch room, picking me up at the school gate so I didn’t need to face the torment of the school bus, and driving me to any club, event, play she could to support and encourage my dreams. She went out of her way to give me and my sister the best chance she could. And she still does.
If you’d have asked me back then who I looked up to, I’d most likely have said Taylor Swift or Selena Gomez. If you asked me today, without missing a beat I’d say my Mum. I will jump at any opportunity to brag about my Mum. She will hate me saying all this, but think of it this way Mum - you’re anonymous on here!! Embrace it. Take the compliments. I work with her, and everyone loves her. I’ve literally had people we know come up to me and say ‘I love your Mum. You’re so lucky.’ and I’m like I know!!!!! She doesn’t even realise how much we all love her.
The thing about her is she’s the least judgmental, kindest, most loving person, but she’s full of spark, fun, humour - she strives to make the day better. From buying me Taylor Swift tickets for Christmas when I was 10, to baking me my favourite cake last week when I was sad. Cooking dinner for my Dad and I when we get home from work to take a worry away, and listening to every mental breakdown I’ve ever had. There are many days I wake up and wish I was my Mother. She’s not had the smoothest ride, but somehow, she’s still turned out to be the strongest, funniest, warmest person. Everything she does, she does with love.
Today, on her birthday, I hope she knows how much I love her.
SQUEALING | Found out on Monday that I would be seeing Taylor Swift and Suki Waterhouse on ONE NIGHT?! Extremely exciting day to be me. Went home and immediately got out my Pop & Suki bag (why did they stop making these, they were so cute?!) because there is simply nothing else I could possibly wear that would be more appropriate. More than ready to be a sparklemuffin Swiftie at Wembley.
READING | After three years of reading some of the most depressing literature known to man, I have done a complete 180 and will only read things with titles like The Sweet Shop of Second Chances.
DAY-TRIPPING | On Wednesday I took the girliest day trip with my Mum and sister to London! We went to the Taylor Swift Songbook Trail at the V&A, followed by the Barbie exhibition at The Design Museum. If you’re into Barbie and haven’t been yet, I’d highly recommend it, it’s one of my favourite exhibits I’ve seen recently. Surprisingly it only had one Barbie that I owned in it which was Midge, the weird pregnant Barbie that got discontinued. Funny thing is, I didn’t realise everyone thought Midge was weird. I was obsessed with her! It wasn’t until the movie came out last year that I acknowledged that having a magnetic detachable womb was a little odd for a children’s doll. We then went to Kings Cross and they were showing Enchanted on the canal!! So cute, it was so relaxed and happy. One of my favourite days this year.
CELEBRATING | We celebrated my mum’s birthday this weekend with a family BBQ! We had perfect weather and delicious food courtesy of my sister and my dad. Another favourite day this year.
WATCHING | I am eagerly anticipating the next season of Only Murders in the Building, one of my fave shows of all time, so I’ve been watching the Cheaper by the Dozen movies this weekend to get my Steve Martin and Eugene Levy fix. Classics!
That’s all for this week! I’ll catch up with you next week with Eras Tour updates & all that good stuff xx
I’ve been waiting to read this one Ella until I had the time to sit down and read it properly! I truly agree about the inspiration/idol being your mum now. And how when you were younger you would have said a famous person and now you would confidently say your mum. Because you’re proud that she is your mum! There is definitely a phase you have when you’re younger that you feel embarrassed which is so bizarre. I don’t know why that happens. Also loved the looking like your mum bit. I always feel so happy and warm inside when someone tells me that. Or even if I notice it. It’s so nice to see her in the way I laugh or smile💖
Oh Ella this is such a beautiful piece for your mumma bear. It had me crying! You're so lucky to have such a lovely mum, and she's clearly done an amazing job!!
I also can't wait for Only Murders. Every time a new season comes out I watch the whole thing from the start. It also fuels my dream of living in an old building in NYC one day!